Olfactory dysfunction and its association with language-related cognitive function and hypertension: A cross-sectional study in an older adults community

Background: Olfactory dysfunction has been associated with hypertension and cognitive disorders in older adults. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between olfactory dysfunction, hypertension, and language-related cognitive impairment in elderly adults. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study included a total of 209 participants. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and clinical assessments, including hypertension classification per Joint National Committee 8, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Verbal Fluency (VF) tests. Olfactory function was assessed using a standardized olfactory test kit. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression, were conducted using the SPSS version 23.0. Results: Olfactory dysfunction was significantly associated with hypertension and cognitive impairment. The strongest association was found with impaired BNT scores (odds ratio [OR] =3.340; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.301–8.574), followed by hypertension (OR = 2.591; 95% CI: 1.247–5.382) and VF impairment (OR = 2.074; 95% CI: 1.007–4.270). Notably, higher MMSE scores were linked to lower odds of olfactory dysfunction (OR = 0.326; 95% CI: 0.153–0.695). Conclusion: Olfactory dysfunction in older adults is closely linked with both hypertension and language-related cognitive decline, particularly naming ability. These findings support incorporating olfactory assessment into routine evaluations of vascular and cognitive health in aging populations.